by Schulte, Liz
But at the moment, the angel wasn’t on my mind. Holden was in some sort of trouble and somehow Femi was involved. Neither would tell me where they were.
They’re at the church, the voice said. They do not need your assistance.
My eyes narrowed. I pushed out with everything I had, trying to connect to the voice in my head. How do you know that? I didn’t expect it to answer—it never did.
My gift is sight. Your gift is hearing.
Hearing what? Who are you?
There was a long pause. A friend.
What do you mean hearing?
There was a flash in my mind that almost hurt but didn’t quite. It left me feeling a little dizzy, but that was all. You must reconnect or you will not survive.
Holden appeared in front of me. “They know about the voice you’re hearing.”
I blinked a couple times. “What are you talking about?”
He gave me a quick rundown on what had happened at the church and the demon pretending to be me. “He said he was there because the voice had told him to go. How would they know about the voice unless they’re behind it?”
My mind knew Holden was right, but my gut said differently. The voice had only been helpful. And somewhere inside of me, I knew that voice. “Maybe they overheard me talk about the voice. When I told Baker, I was on the street not too far from the church. Perhaps one of them followed me and I didn’t see it.” I pressed my lips together. “I really think it’s an ally.”
“Do you know who it is?”
“It says a friend.”
Holden gave me an irritated look. “You have to have more than that if you are asking me to trust this voice.”
“I’m not asking you to trust the voice. I’m asking you to trust me.”
His eyes held mine. Something was building beneath the surface, but I wasn’t sure what it was. “I’ll trust you, Liv, if you trust me.”
I inspected his aura, his expression—as minute as it was—and when all that failed, I tried to see in his mind. He was maneuvering me, but I wasn’t sure where. Curiosity won the day. “What do you want?”
“We have to work with the jinn on this.”
The angel bristled beneath my skin, but I held on tight. I wasn’t an unreasonable person. The angel perhaps was when it came to jinn. I would at least hear him out. “Work with them how?”
“By using the information they collect to better prepare ourselves.”
“And that’s all?”
He raised an eyebrow. “What else would there be?”
I didn’t like battling with Holden. It wasn’t just that he was better at manipulating and guiding me to where he wanted me to be. I didn’t want to suspect his motives. Whatever he was getting at, he obviously felt that it was important, and I loved him. Both the angel and I would deal with whatever happened if that was what Holden needed us to do. “Okay.”
“You can keep your temper around them?”
“Yes,” I said a little tersely, already struggling with a surge of irritation.
He held up his hands. “You have a violent streak. I’m not judging, but it goes a little haywire sometimes. You have to admit it. Do you know what sets you off?”
“It happens too fast. One minute I am in control and the next I am in the dark and she has taken over.”
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. The fidgety angel felt miles away.
“I can control it,” I said into his chest. I wished I felt as confident as I’d sounded and Holden knew it.
“You won’t have to see them a lot.” He leaned back and kissed me softly, taking my breath. “We’ll find the trigger and it will make it easier to control.”
Holden was the best person to be in this position with. He’d spent decades learning to control his abilities and stay calm. If anyone could walk me through it, it was him. We just needed more time. Since the trial, I had been carrying on as if nothing had changed. I’d ignored his warnings that I should be training and preparing. That was the trouble with having an angel inside of me; I felt invincible most of the time. And after everything that had happened, it was really hard to fathom that I wasn’t. “I’m sorry I didn’t take this more seriously sooner.”
He gave a halfhearted shrug. “I could have pushed you harder to accept it”—he ran his hand down my cheek—“but I liked seeing you happy.”
“Happiness can wait.”
Holden shook his head, his face very serious. “Happiness is the one thing that should never wait. It’s rare enough in this world that when you find it, you should grab on and hold it for as long as you can.”
I smiled a little. “You’re kind of wise sometimes.”
“I’ll try not to make a habit out of it.”
“So this happiness thing. That should apply to everyone—even Baker, right?”
Holden sighed and dropped his arms. “Okay, who is this girl he likes and why does she keep coming up? Does he want to leave? Is that his problem?”
“Talk to him.”
“Just tell me.”
“Nope, my lips are sealed. I promised him I wouldn’t. You need to reach out to him. He is your friend.” I threw away a pretend key as I went to the door and opened it for Femi and Baker.
Baker’s hand stopped just above the door. “Waiting by the door, angel?”
“I’m so glad to see you.” Femi bumped against my shoulder as she walked in.
Holden stared at me with a blank face. “How did you know they were here?”
“He knocked.” I pointed at Baker.
“No I didn’t.” Baker sat in his usual place on the couch.
I scanned my memory. I’d been talking to Holden and then there’d been something else. It was difficult to pluck from my thoughts, but it was there. Baker had said something and Femi had said something back, but I couldn’t really say what. “I heard them talking.”
“We weren’t talking in the hallway.” Femi inspected me. “We were when we came in the building though.”
“My gift is hearing,” I muttered. The voice in my head was of course gone now, but that’s what it had said before the flash. What had it done to me? I needed answers now and it had them. If it could reach me, there had to be a way for me to reverse the connection.
“What do you mean?” Holden asked.
“The voice said my gift was hearing and its gift was seeing. I didn’t know what it meant, but I’m beginning to understand.”
“Great, ‘cause I have no clue what any of you are talking about. I’m gone for a few hours and I miss everything,” Femi said. “Is it good that you are hearing a voice? Did we figure out what’s eating Baker? Why is Holden making deals with the jinn?”
Holden glared at Baker, who looked away fast. “What deal?” I asked.
“Just what we talked about.”
“How could you have already set anything up? I just agreed to it.”
He smiled. “I knew you would come around.”
Hmph. I couldn’t really complain since I probably would have done the same thing in his situation. He was every bit as stubborn as I was, just sneakier about it. Now wasn’t the time for nitpicking. “Yes, I’m hearing a voice. I’m fairly certain it’s angelic and Uriel agrees, but I don’t know who it is—yet. I think it’s helping us, but I don’t know why. If you would like to know what’s weighing on Baker’s mind, talk to him yourself.” I gestured to Baker, who sat with his arms folded over his chest, staring at his shoes until I said his name.
“Wait, wait. You actually agreed to Holden’s idea?” Baker frowned and looked between us. “The two of you aren’t yanking my chain?”
“I trust Holden’s judgment. If he thinks this is best, then I’ll support him.”
Baker threw his hands up in the air. “The world has lost its damn mind, starting with the two of you.” He stood up. “Don’t get me wrong, I think we need their help, but”—he gave a helpless gesture—“they’re jinn. No offense.”
Holden shook his head.
Holden shrugged and shook his head. The door slammed behind him. Femi sat, plopping her legs down on the coffee table. I didn’t bother looking at Holden. Of course her feet on the table would bug him more than Baker leaving in a huff.
“So here are my thoughts,” she said. “If we are dealing with some shape-shifting sort of demon, then we all need to stick together. Otherwise, how will we know if the other person is real? I mean, that demon looked and smelled just like you. It was seriously weird. Holden is probably the only person in the world who could tell it wasn’t you. Second, we need to get our shifter back on board. Maybe Baker has shifter mojo and can recognize them. Or maybe he can tell us the tricks to look for when dealing with others. Regardless, we need him back and not in a funk.” She flipped her long ponytail with a graceful flick of her head toward the door. “But now, we can’t be sure that whatever Baker comes back is the real one. You shouldn’t have let him leave until we had all this sorted out. Seriously, what’s his deal?”
“You were here. Why didn’t you stop him?” Holden asked,
Femi smiled. “I’m here for support. You’re the one running this show.”
I sighed. “He’s a little heartbroken right now. Cut him some slack.”
She curled her lip like I’d said that he’d broken a fingernail. “Well, give him a hug and let’s move the fuck on. Now is not the time for him to feel his feelings,” she said.
Holden smiled. “She took the words right out of my mouth.”
“I swear the two of you have a negative sense of compassion.” I looked after the door. “Do we really need him back tonight?”
Femi shrugged. “I don’t think we should split up anymore until we have a handle on how to I.D. each other.”
I glanced at Holden and he nodded. Baker probably wouldn’t talk to either of them, not that I could blame him, so it was up to me. “I’ll get him.”
When I exited the building, I spotted him a little way down the street. Jogging up behind him, I put a hand on his shoulder. “Baker, wait.”
A different face turned to me. His short red-brown hair was a little longer, his nose that normally looked like it had been broken a few times was aquiline and suited his face, but his ears still stuck out a little. His intense steel-colored eyes were the same, as was his aura—however, Baker could change that too if he needed to.
Slightly taken aback, I dropped my hand. “Baker?”
He glanced around. “Yeah, it’s me, angel. What do you need?” He crossed his arms over his chest. They were still thick with muscles but masked by a dark suit.
I shook my head, trying to jolt myself back to point. “You can’t leave. The demon shape-shifts and we need some sort of plan for recognizing one another.”
He pulled me over closer to the building. “It’s a demon? You’re sure?”
“That’s what Femi and Holden said.”
He nodded. “Then we don’t have a problem. Holden, Femi, or I might not be able to spot the demon, but you can. There is no mask a demon or jinn could use to hide themselves from an angel.”
I ran my hand through my hair. “So you aren’t coming back?”
He smiled, but it wasn’t the carefree smile Baker normally had. “Yeah, I’ll be back. There’s a dame who needs to see me right now. Don’t think I’m going to let this jinn thing go either. I thought it was a bad idea when the boss brought it up, and I still think it is a bad idea with you on board.”
“Look, I don’t like working with the jinn either, but none of that matters right now. If they’re willing to help us, I don’t see how we could say no. It isn’t like I am freeing them.”
Baker closed his eyes for a second. “That makes more sense.” He shook his head. “It’s not freeing them that I am worried about.”
“What are you worried about?”
His lips pressed into a thin line and he glanced at his watch. “Gotta go, doll. See you later.” He started down the street without answering me.
“Baker,” I called out after him. He turned around. “If you really think you love her, tell her the truth. It will all work out. I’ll take care of Holden.”
Baker grinned wide and waved before trotting off. I headed back for our building slowly. Obviously Holden hadn’t given me the whole story with the jinn. I ignored the trickle of annoyance. The same philosophy that had prompted me to accept him to begin with was still in play. I had to trust him, and if he felt whatever he was keeping from me was worth the risk then I would go along with it. We were strongest as a team.
OLIVIA WOULD TAKE care of Holden.
Letting a woman fight my battles for me might not seem like the noble thing to do, but who ever said I gave a fuck about being noble? When this thing, whatever it was, with Maggie started, I knew it couldn’t last. Even if I opened the gate, we might not make it far, but Olivia stepping into my corner was a good sign—if I were the type to believe in signs, that is. I wanted a piece of what Olivia and Holden had, and why not have it with Maggie? She was good people.
I dialed her number. She picked up just before the fourth ring. “Hey, ba—” I cut myself off, clearing my throat. I had technically broken up with her. Probably shouldn’t call her baby.
“Baker.” Icebergs were warmer than her voice.
“I’m sorry, Maggie. I have a lot of explaining to do. I know that.”
“And are you ready to talk? Really talk? No more bullshit, Baker.”
“All my cards on the table.”
She was quiet for a few moments. Then she sighed. “Fine. Where do you want to meet?”
“How about your place?”
“Fine. How about seven p.m.”
“I’ll be there.”
I switched back to my normal look and headed home. I could catch a couple hours of sleep before I had to go over there. As soon as I lay down, though, my brain kicked in. Shape-shifting demons could pose a definite problem. I didn’t know if I could recognize one if it approached. Maggie went “missing” the night before, but I actually wasn’t sure she was really missing. I had done my best to steer Holden and Quintus away from any of the places she went to think. I didn’t want them to find her. I’d expected her to be mad for at least a few days, but today she’d called, wanting to talk. That was a pretty quick turnaround. She knew where I lived though I’d never told her. Pieces weren’t adding up. What if it wasn’t her? They had already come after me once. I couldn’t wait. Maybe Maggie really was missing.
My insides hardened. They would kill her. I couldn’t just lay here and do nothing. I had to know. I went to her office and waited outside for her. I didn’t see any reason why a demon doppelganger would go to work in her place. Four minutes before five, people began coming out of the building. I watched the people trickle out like sheep, but she wasn’t among them. I called her office line, but it went to voicemail. I tapped my foot on the sidewalk. I went into an alley and shifted into a messenger. I jogged up to the building then rode the elevator to her floor. Her chair was pushed against her desk in her cubicle and the computer was cool to the touch.
“Can I help you?”
I turned to a cute girl with a stack of files in her hand. “Is Maggie Edwards in?”
“No.” She gave me a suspicious look.
“I have a package for her.” I held up a blank envelope I’d picked up from her desk.
“Maggie was out sick today.” She reached for the envelope. “My name is Tina Tolles. I’m the office manager. I can take it if you want.”
I held it just out of her reach. “I’m afraid I have to deliver it directly to her. Will she be in tomorrow?”
“Oh, okay. Well, as far as I know, she will be here.”
“Great. Thanks.” I headed back for the elevator. I went directly from her office toward the lake to the spot along the jogging trail she liked. Her spot was empty. I blew out a breath and went to the last place I knew to lo
ok for her, besides for her apartment—the Velvet Cupcake. Maggie’s sweet tooth knew no end, especially when she was upset or stressed. She wasn’t there either, but I picked her up a raspberry and white chocolate swirl cupcake. Strolling toward her apartment, I shook my head. I really hadn’t thought any of this through. I still had no way to know if the Maggie I was meeting was really her. Then again, maybe I was being paranoid.
I knocked on her door. She opened it, wearing slouchy sweats. Her eyes were puffy and she had a spoon in her mouth. Immediately the paranoia was replaced with guilt. I gave her the bag with the cupcake. She looked at it for a moment, her tongue darting out over her lip. I could see the internal debate of her not wanting to take anything from me, but she eventually did and walked away. I followed her inside, shutting the door behind me.
I stood there awkwardly. I didn’t know what to say to her. “You didn’t go to work today.”
She glanced back, eyebrows pulled together. “I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
I nodded. “Where did you go?”
Her hand paused, reaching into the bag. “What makes you think I wasn’t here?”
I gave her a tight smile. While I felt guilty and was eighty-five percent certain it was her, I had to be certain. “You weren’t, were you?”
She pulled out the cupcake and scooped a bit of icing onto her fingertip. “No,” she said before licking the icing off her finger.
“Where did you go?”
“How is that any of your business, Baker? You broke up with me.”
“I need to know, Maggie.”
She rolled her eyes. “Well, there are a lot of things I need to know from you. So why don’t you start. Why did we break up?”
“Please, Maggie. I will tell you everything, but first you need to tell me where you went last night.”
Her eyes met mine. “Driving. I was driving and thinking.”